. It is modeled after a ceviche throwdown benefit in Houston earlier this year.

The event will benefit Friends of the Fishermen, a nonprofit associated with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Maude Eaton of South Florida Foodies describes herself as a "bon vivant who shares the love of food." According to Eaton, ninety percent of proceeds, after expenses, will be donated to the organization: "We thought it would be great to bring attention back to the Gulf, since it's not as prominent in the news anymore. We wanted to reiterate the beauty and bounty of the Gulf."

Eaton says they are offering Throwdown chefs available fish from Florida

and the Gulf, but that they are also including other seafood in order

to give the chefs the widest possible variety of ingredients. She says